The Atlanta Braves' matchup against the Reds on Monday took quite the turn in the third inning. First baseman Matt Olson's opposite field flare resulted in a brutal injury for the Reds' Tyler Callihan. Callihan would later be diagnosed with multiple broken bones in his forearm and Olson ended up with one of the most unlikely inside-the-park home run you are likely to see unless Marcell Ozuna pulls off the feat.
Most of the reaction to the news has centered around the horror of the injury, feeling for Callihan, and hating the rule the umpires used to justify that Callihan didn't make the catch on the play. However, there are some fans out there that are directing their ire towards Olson for not stopping his trip around the bases. Those fans need a reality check.
Matt Olson did nothing wrong and if fans are mad, they should blame the umpires
It is a bit odd to blame a player who was in mid-stride and hundreds of feet away when Callihan got hurt, but that is precisely the situation Olson finds himself in the morning after. He saw the ball was on the ground, confirmed with umpires the play was still live, and came around to score. If the roles were reversed and it was a Reds player in that situation, these same fans would have rioted if he didn't score on the play.
Of course, there isn't logic in play here. Callihan got really hurt and on a play where he was hustling his ass off. Reds fans are looking for as many people to blame as is humanly possible and honestly, we get it. However, some of these responses are pretty unhinged.
Matt Olsen should have taken a knee.
— insertion loss (@estwoone) May 6, 2025
If the Reds don’t drill Olson next AB I’m gonna be very disappointed
— RC (@UKsportsRC) May 6, 2025
Olson should have stopped with good sportsmanship and the @MLB should be ashamed to give a guy a home run on that.
— Ŧ✭SŦEVOKENEVO✭Ŧ (@Stevokenevo3) May 6, 2025
Again, blaming the guy running the bases is pretty wild here and if Cincinnati does throw at Olson, there is going to be a full-blown situation on their hands. Fortunately, Reds manager Terry Francona clearly had no ill will after the game and just isn't the type to be that level of petty.
However, Reds fans do have a legitimate gripe with the umpires in this situation. It was a judgment call on whether Callihan's collision with the wall was "immediately" after the catch or if the release of the ball afterwards was voluntary and it is pretty tough to rule against the Reds and Callihan in that spot. Be as mad as you want to with the rule and the umpires, but don't blame Olson for doing the job he is paid very handsomely to do the way you would want your own players to play.